The Guyanese fascination with post-mortal praises

THE RECENT DEATHS OF COUNCILLOR ‘GEM’ NARINE AND RETIRED DENTAL
NURSE PATRICIA DANIEL-STEPHEN have magnified a culture in mineral-rich Linden that
former legislator Audwin Rutherford wants changed.
Immediately.
That culture is post-mortal praise.
Give praises. But reserve it for after they die.
This is indeed a most intriguing baffling fascination among 700,000-odd multi-racial citizens of
the 51-year-old Cooperative Republic.
But the former Member of Parliament (MP) is disgusted with the ingrained Guyanese practice of
eulogising nationals with avalanches of praise – ONLY AFTER THEY ARE DEAD.
“It was so heartening to hear the commendations for Gem Narine and Patricia Daniel-Stephen
when they passed. But you know, it is useful at some stage if we can stop and…just recognize
someone when they are alive for what they have been doing. It is sad on the passing of persons
we seem to glorify them so much and hardly spend a day to understand the usefulness and
important contributions of these individuals when they are alive,” Rutheford counselled.
He is uncertain whether there exists a genuine acknowledgement among nationals to change such
an insincere culture. Rutherford was astonished to hear praises for the late Peoples Progressive
Party Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Narine from a political foe during a radio show.
He doubted her political opposite would venture acknowledging her stellar qualities were she
alive.
“So that is the first corner we have to turn. We just need to be fair to ourselves. From time-to-
time feature persons from Linden. If I were to die tomorrow, you will write something about me,
good, bad and or in-between, and they will always try to find the good piece and maybe forget

about the bad piece. But people may be frank even though you will hear the ‘buts’. But the pen is
in your hands,” Rutherford counselled.
He foresees local media championing the change of culture he envisions.